Paint It Forward Puts the First Coat on Gateway
February 21, 2023
Today, 125 painters from the national Painting Contractors Association (PCA) volunteered their time to paint large parts of the Gateway and Gibson Health Hub. The Paint It Forward initiative is PCA’s national philanthropic campaign which spreads ‘painting happiness’ and gives back to the community. Today’s event marked the largest Paint It Forward project in PCA’s history and is the first coordinated, national Paint It Forward project, accompanying the national PCA conference taking place this week in Albuquerque. The mission of Paint It Forward aligns perfectly with the City’s work to open the Gateway, a place of health and healing that will help 1,000 people a day when fully operational.
“The professional painting contractors who make up the membership of the Painting Contractors Association each perform their own charitable projects each and every year, donating thousands of hours of labor to worthwhile projects across North America – by developing and staging PCA’s first coordinated national Paint It Forward event here at Albuquerque’s Gateway Center, we have an opportunity to give back while working side by side for the first time! We’re grateful the city has given us this opportunity and collaborated with PCA to ensure this project is a success” Said PCA Executive Director Nigel Costolloe.
The effort amounted to 1,000 hours of painter labor, as well as donated materials from painting giants Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. The painters added fresh coats to the lobby, a 4th floor office suite, and the sleeping areas in the Gateway. The estimated value of the labor and materials totaled close to $400,000.
“We’re grateful to have Paint It Forward here to work on one of the City’s biggest projects,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “The Gateway is possible because of broad community support, and I am thankful for these painters who chose to lend their skills and talents to help get us closer to opening.”
The work accomplished today moves Gateway closer to being ready to open its doors to clients in April, as well as prepared additional spaces to welcome future tenants.
